Lao Yu Zai Taro Balls

Review

Lao Yu Zai Taro Balls is at No. 408-2, Section 1, Dongshan Road in Beitun District and is one of the most often recommended taro dessert shops around Dakeng. UpToGo's Dakeng food roundup calls it many people's first choice after hiking Trail No. 9, and Supertaste lists it as a long-running taro ball shop recommended by locals; the name is straightforward, taro is the star, and its online review count ranks near the top among Dakeng businesses.

A 2022 report by Yam Travel put the mixed taro ball shaved ice at NT$50, with taro balls, taro, tapioca pearls, red beans and sweet potato balls, the taro cut in big chunks, and the taro paste with sago at NT$40, with condensed milk or ginger syrup added free; prices may have changed, so go by what is posted. UpToGo notes the taro is Dajia betel-nut taro, soft and creamy; the taro and sweet potato balls are chewy, and the overall sweetness is low enough to taste the taro itself. In cold weather there are hot versions with much the same toppings.

Fans praise the generous taro, creamy without being cloying, friendly prices and great value, and say the queue is long but moves fast. Critics mention weekend crowds and a somewhat chaotic room where you carry your own tray and hunt for seats; others find the menu limited to taro desserts, which leaves little for people who do not love taro, and say takeaway orders sometimes come out faster than dine-in.

It opens daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the reports do not mention a closing day. Both dine-in and takeaway customers queue to order first, then collect their food and find a seat. There is a dedicated free car park behind the shop, so driving is easy; an older report gave an address on Section 2 of Dongshan Road, but current sources agree on No. 408-2, Section 1. Summer weekend afternoons are busiest, so avoiding 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. makes it easier.

Good for taro lovers, hikers cooling down after the Dakeng trails, and families with grandparents or children. First-timers should order the mixed taro ball shaved ice to try every topping, or the hot version if you prefer; ask staff for condensed milk or ginger syrup, and two people can order one cold and one hot to share.